SGA and SAB Split, Participation Grows

Editor-in-Chief

   The Student Government Association and Student Activities Board decided to have two separate meetings again due to the large volume of student participation this year.

Courtesy of Eric Bell

Large Turnout - More than 30 students attended the SGA meeting Tuesday, Aug. 26. SGA voted on activities to encourage fan participation at home football games.

   Last year, the SGA and SAB combined because of lack of student participation. New Student Programs and Activities Director Mindy Holcomb said she could already tell this was a more involved student body.

   Michael Reynolds, SGA vice president and SAB president, said he thought the SGA meeting had a great turnout.

   “We’re going to need a bigger room now that so many students want to be involved. It is my vision that we meet in the Green Room so that (SGA and SAB) can include every student,” Reynolds said.

   The meeting focused primarily on encouraging more fan participation at football games. SGA will provide activities for tailgating before each home game, including face painting by the Art Club, a bounce house donated by Pauline Baptist Church, spray-on tattoos and a family-friendly D.J.

   SGA voted to give out t-shirts and number one hands during each football game to help fans show team spirit. They also voted to give away an 8 GB iPod touch during halftime of the first home football game Sept. 6. All enrolled students will automatically be entered into the drawing and must be present at the game to win. The winner will need their student identification card to claim the iPod.

   Michael Thomas, SGA President, announced he addressed the problem with only one Internet connection in each of the Maxwell dorm rooms. He said he met with the Information Technology department and they are addressing the problem.

   Thomas also announced Alpha Phi Alpha will host Rock the Vote on campus Sept. 17 to encourage students to vote in the upcoming presidential election.

   Alpha Sigma Tau member Sandy Herring said she thought the meeting had a good turnout, but recommended SGA use parliamentary procedure to avoid all of the talking during the meeting.

   “With so many people, things would run a lot smoother if (SGA) utilized Robert’s Rules of Order and had an agenda,” Herring said.

   Fred Lilly, SGA secretary, said he would start making an agenda for SAB and SGA meetings. If the meeting falls on a Tuesday, all agenda items must be received by the previous Sunday. If the meeting falls on a Thursday, the agenda items must be received by the previous Tuesday. All agenda items need to be sent to Fred Lilly at fwl0319@uamont.edu.

   SAB met after the SGA meeting concluded. Reynolds said he wants these meetings to be more creative and to get students talking and develop ideas.

   “These meetings should provide more of a creative process for gathering ideas we vote on in SGA,” Reynolds said.

   Reynolds asked everyone to think of activities SAB could host for students who do not leave campus for the weekend.  Students in attendance also agreed they wanted to hold more educational events.

   “If any organization or sorority or fraternity wants to hold an event or educational event, all they need to do is come and ask (SAB) for help,” Reynolds said.

   SGA will meet every other Thursday starting Sept. 11 at 12:45. SAB will meet this Thursday at 12:45. After this meeting, SAB will meet every Tuesday at 12:45. For more information, contact Holcomb at 870-460-1396 or holcomb@uamont.edu.

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